"I was always known as the slow one at school" - record-breaking blind runner on her journey!

"I was always known as the slow one at school" - record-breaking blind runner on her journey!

Running is something she does competitively, but it wasn't always her first love. Louzanne Coetzee sat with me to talk about what it takes to be a blind runner!

Louzanne Coetzee
World Para Athletics Grand Prix Berlin 2018 Photo Credit: Reinhardt Hamman — at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark.

Louzanne Coetzee sat with me to talk about what it takes to be a blind runner. She talks about her training, her running partner, and how she was considered the "slow one" in high school!

Another great podcast: "I will have to take medicine for the rest of my life, but I will live!"

Coetzee joined Danny Painter. Listen to the podcast here:

Beautiful News recently published a video about Louzanne and her running partner, Xavier! 

In 2016, she broke the world record in the T11 category for the 5 000m, the first blind female athlete to run this distance in under 20 minutes. She also holds the 800m record in Africa. When she spoke to Beautiful News she said: “To run without being able to see feels normal to me,” she explains how her partner Xavier Adams guides her direction. “When people see Xavier, they either think he’s in the wrong race or he’s there to beat me, he’s actually the one who helps me win.” 

Also listen to: The colour you paint your house can affect your mental and emotional state!

Their relationship is built on trust – Adams’ support is key to Coetzee’s career. Friends off the track, they propel each other to success. “It feels like my win as well because we’re a team,” Adams says. 

You can follow her journey on her Facebook page!

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